Continuous butter producer



April 16, 1935. c. DQERING I 1,997,999

CONTINUOUS BUTTER PRODUCER Filed Aug. 22, 1952 Charles Boring Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTINUOUS BUTTER PRODUCER Charles Doering, Chicago, 111.

Application August 22, 1992, Serial No. 629,829

6 Claims. (01. 259-2) This invention relates to a producer for dairy Figure 1 is an end view in elevation of a device products and more particularly to continuous embodying features of the present invention. butter producers, although the teachings thereof Figure '2 is a side view of the device disclosed in may be employed with equal advantage for other Figure 1, parts thereof being removed to clarify purposes. 9 the showing. 5 It contemplates more especially the provision Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the crank of a simple and effective device for producing mechanism viewed substantially from line dairy products without entailing much labor or III-III of Figure l. requiring interrupted handling in order to render The structure selected for illustration comsuch available for the market, prises a substantially rectangular base Ill which Numerous types of butter producers have been supp r tandard H and I t n vers ly nd heretofore proposed, but these have not proven proximate to the eXtlemity thereof- The andespecially adoptable in continuous processing ards II are bolted or otherwise attached to the of dairy products which require utmost sanitabase and e e ar y split bearings l3 and M tion and varied processing in order to render such at difiereht elevations and in horizontally Spaced ultimately available for the market. In the case relation, the bearing 54 being more p te t of butter, the cream must be handled and agithe base f reasons which w app a more tated; thereafter the butter milk must be withfully hereinafterdrawn and separated from the resulting product, T horizontally a n d bearings in t e Standand then cleansing must be effectedto the end of erds H and 1 Carry a Crank Shaft l5 Which s producing a product suitable for Vmarketing lournalled for rotation therein. A rocker shaft Thesevaried steps usually entail handling and I6 is ieernelled the bearings to support interrupted processing which involves a great the bushlhgs n proximate to the Standards H deal of time and precludes the production of and 12, the bushings I? hav ng Vertically extendvdairy products t t t, Sanitation; ring rods l8 formed integral or otherwise there- 2 One'object of the present invention is to sim- W to telescopically receive tubular members lify t construction and improve the operation l9 thereover. Fasteners such as set screws 20 of the device of the character mentioned. p threededly ngage the bushing I? for contact th object is t provide improved means with the rocker shaft I6 so as to establish a rigid for producing dairy products such as buttel; in connection therebetween as well as afiord relative 30 new and novel manner without interrupted hanadjustabflityset Screws 25 extendthrough the u g tubular members it, for engagement with the Still another object is to applythe vibratory ht rods 13 eas to regulate the vertical principle to a butter producing device so as to relation therebetween, it being possible to elevate ford conversion of liquid dairy products into solor lower e tubular-members 9 relative ,to the ids in a continuity of operations rods 18 as commercial practice may dictate or A further object is to provide means for vibratt 1n order to P the desu'ed adJust' ing dairy substances along a predetermined path g fig reasons Whlch W111 appear more fully t efiec the ro ressive conversion thereto into Gran? o t p g The tubular members l 9 terminate in U-shaped butter or other solid edibles.

A still further object is to provide novel means for vibrating dairy liquids for the conversion f g s g g f ii i g fi s g g g nfmch ing 23 is provided with a top closure 24 detach- 0 p g ably associated therewith, there being a runway 45 Still a further ob ect is to direct dairy liquids in the casing 23 to define a circuitous path for ahmg predetermined path for progressive the substances discharged thereto. The runway version into edible solids responsive to the subjec- 25 Comprises invthis instance a series of a1ter tion' thereof to vibration with progressive cleansnately inclined flat f gg 21 and 23 f mg and loy'prochlct Withdrawal in a continuity substantially rectangular configuration to effect 50 0f interruptedoperationsthe traverse of the substances from one to the Other objects a d adva w appear from other until the bottom of the casing 23 is reached.

the following desc ption of an illustrative em- The top member 26 receives a liquid substance bodiment of the present invention. such as cream from a tank 29 which is supported it In the drawing: by a bracket 30 attached to the standards 3|.

brackets 22 designed to receive a vertically elongated box member or casing 23 which rests therein for support by the rocker shaft H6. The casihe standards 3! terminate in flanges 32 to enable the attachment thereof to the base l by means of fasteners 33. By so doing the tank 29 is elevated substantially above the casing 23, and the cream is allowed to pass therefrom through a valve 34 into a funnel 35 supported by the bracket 32 by virtue of a plate 36. The funnel 35 has a discharge pipe 3! leading to a hose 38 which establishes communication between the funnel S and a pipe 39 attached to the top casing closure 24. The cream from the tank 29 flows responsive to the urge of gravity through the top closure 2:! proximate to one end thereof for lodgment on the runway board 26 near the highest elevated end thereof. flow of the cream is regulated by means of the valve 34, and such is guided down the runway 25 for deposit on the runway 2i and subsequently to the runway which communicates with a discharge spout 48 provided in the casing 23 near the lgwermost edge thereof. The spout 45 may be provided with a gate valve of any suitable construction so as to regulate the flow from the casing 23 to a receptacle or funnel 45 which may constitute a part of another processing machine such as a'butter print device.

During the passage of the liquid substances such as cream along the runway 25, the entire casing 23 is vibrated or oscillated by means of connecting rods 32 connected intermediate the cranks 453 and the casing 23. The casing supports are, in this instance, provided with angle brackets 44 to" enable the convenient attachment of the connecting rods :32 thereto. In the present embodiment, the angle brackets 44 are provided with a plurality of apertures 45 which afford an adjustable connection of the rods 42 thereto so that the latter may be disposed substantially horizontally, irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the casing 23 owing to the telescopic support of the tubular member l9 relative 'to the rocking shaft mounts I-B. A variation in the elevation of the casing 23 will vary the extent of oscillation or degree of vibration depending upon the dictates and requirements of commercial practice, and this adjustment is afforded by the yielding hose 38 so that the tank 29 need not be correspondingly displaced.

Rotation is imparted to the crankshaft l5 by means of an electric motor 46 mounted on the base Ill, there being a belt 41 which connects the motor armature with a fly-wheel 48 mounted on the shaft I 5. Any number or fiy-wheels 48 may be attached to the shaft l5 to stabilize the vibration of the casing '23 andto render the cycle ofcperation of the moving parts more smoothly conducive to continued maintenance. The extentof vibration of the casing 23 determines the degree of conversion of the liquid flowing from the tank 29 to the runway 25. It will be apparent that this vibration will progressively convert the liquid, in this instance, tobutter particles and the residue liquid therefrom such as buttermilk may be drained or withdrawn from the path of movement without interruption thereto. is accomplished by providing a perforated area 49 in the flat member 23 so that the remaining liquid may be withdrawn therefrom responsive to the passage thereover. A disc shaped funnel 55 is secured to the underside of the member 23 to surround the perforated regions 49 thereof so that the liquid residue may be drawn off and conveyed by means of a pipe 5! to any suitable.

supply tank.

In order to cleanse the converting solids prior to.

the cream supply tank 29.

the discharge from the casing 23, another perforated region 52 is provided in a flat member 28 proximate to the extreme discharge end thereof. Another funnel-shaped member 53 is attached to the underside of the flat member 28 to enclose the perforated region 52 thereof, and all liquids on the runway intermediate the perforated region 49 and the lowermost end of the casing 23, are withdrawn through the tube or pipe 54. Cleansing is enabled by resort toa water-spray which is supplied to the casing 23 above the runway board 28 and intermediate the perforated regions 49 and 52 thereof. To this end, a. water supply tank 55 may be provided on the same bracket 30 which serves as a support for A valve 55 therein controls the passage to a funnel 51 which has a yieldable pipe such as a hose 58 in communication with the side wall of the casing 23 between the runway boards 27 and 28. Thus, a water spray may be selectively furnished from the tank 55 to cover the converted solids such as butter fte he iq i r s d euch as u termilk has been withdrawn therefrom to the discharge funnel 5B. The cleansing fluid is withdrawn from the path of travel prior to the discharge of the converted solids such as butter from the casing 23 through the perforated region 52 as described supra.

In order to enable the observation of the conversion process interiorly of the casing 23,, plurality of peep indicators, in this instance three, are provided in the side wall of the casing 23. The peep indicators 58 comprise, in this instance, a circular transparent disc 50 preferably made from glass which is hermetically sealed and n ountedin flanges 51 for attachment to the side wall of the casing 23 by virtue of fasteners 52. The indicator 59 is preferably provided at crucial positions in the path of travel so as to enable the frequent and convenient observation of the substances as they are progressively converted. Thus the attendant may be guided in the operation and oscillatory movement ofthe casing 23, since the degree of'vibra tion or oscillation determines the rapidity of conversion of the liquid to produce edible solids such as butter. The extent of oscillation or vibration is variable by changing the height 01' the casing 23- relative to the rocker shaft I 6, thereby necessitating the change the connection of the crank rod 42 with the casing bracket 44. This adjustment affords the desired variai e ng, erent subs anc s. r t e same ub ance o din -tent grades. n Quali y.- With. the arrangement of parts aboye described it is. pparent ha a. e nd n v l m thod: o r c ng i y ub ances a be n. prq ded in, a ont nui y o pera-inns new, ne essi a ng orrequiring interrupted handling; or entailing abr ime f. he ttendan mate a t and du ing the prqv ssins. th eo n i v s. wndus vsi the i he t de ree o sanitation, I

V u an es; e mad n. the win hm t of he. nve i arem se fill es he w ihe i deser Of h dvanta s f; th he: ppende c ims I claim:

a dance; i the; haracter descr bed; the mm iaai en, wi h a s u-lic f. lu d s ppl 3- means for n fiuidi r m eia So r e-alone a circuitous path responsive to the. influence: of

gravity, means for vibrating said guide means for partial conversion of said fluid to solid particles, means for draining the residue liquid from said path during the traverse of the solid particles, and means for guiding the discharge of said solid particles.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a source of fluid supply, of means for guiding fluid from said source along a circuitous path responsive to the influence of gravity, means for vibrating said guide means for partial conversion of said fluid to solid particles, means for draining the residue liquid from said path during the traverse of the solid particles, means for cleansing the solid particles during the traverse thereof, and means for guiding the discharge of said solid particles.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a source of fluid supply, of means for guiding fluid from said source along a circuitous path responsive to the influence of gravity, means for vibrating said guide means for partial conversion of said fluid to solid particles, means for draining the residue liquid from said path during the traverse of the solid particles, means for cleansing the solid particles during the traverse thereof, means for draining the cleansing fluid from said path, and means for guiding the discharge of said solid particles.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a source of fluid supply, of means for guiding fluid from said source along a circuitous path responsive to the influence of gravity, means for vibrating'said guide means for partial conversion of said fluid to solid particles,

means for draining the residue liquid from said path during the traverse of the solid particles, means for cleansing the solid particles during the traverse thereof, means for draining the cleansing fluid from said path, means for guiding the discharge of said solid particles, and means for varying the degree of vibration of said guide means.

5. In a food producer of the character described, the combination with a source of edible fluid supply, of means for guiding the fluid from said source along a predetermined path, means for vibrating said guide means for partial conversion of said fluid to solid edible particles, means for draining the residue liquid from said path during the traverse of the solid edible particles, means for cleansing said solid edible particles during the traverse thereof, means for varying the degree of vibration of said guide means, and means for guiding the discharge of said solid edible particles. 1 V

6. In a food producer of the characterdescribed, the combination with a source of edible fluid supply, of an inclined runway for guiding the liquid along a predetermined path responsive to the urge of gravity, means for vibrating said runway for the progressive partial conversion of said liquid to solid edible particles, means for draining the residue liquid, means for directing a source of cleansing fluid supply to said runway, means for draining said cleansing fluid from said runway prior to the discharge of the solid edible particles therefrom, and means for varying the degree of vibration of said runway. 7

CHARLES DOERING'. 

